“Jaltemba,” the juvenile Hawksbill turtle that divers rescued in April 2012, made her way back to the Bay of Jaltemba and Rincón de Guayabitos this past Thursday, September 12, 2013. A fisherman happened to catch Jaltemba in his net just off Isla Coral. He immediately noticed the tracking device and contacted Vicente Peña from Red Tortuguera A.C., a local organization that monitors and assists endangered sea turtles.

Jaltemba was transported to the turtle sanctuary near Boca de Naranjo, where she is being fed and cared for until her satellite transmitter can be repaired. Since her initial release in July 2012, Jaltemba has grown considerably and has travelled approximately 153 km. Vicente expects to be able to reattach the transmitter and re-release her back into the ocean in approximately 3-4 weeks.

Editor’s Note: Jaltemba was the first turtle to receive a satellite transmitter in the state of Nayarit. This device allowed researchers to track her behavior and learn more about this critically endangered species. Hundreds of people gathered on the beach in Rincón de Guayabitos to witness her release. Read more about Jaltemba’s rescue story below.

A second Hawksbill turtle recently rescued in our area is also being fitted with a radio transmitter. “Nayar” will be released today, Sunday, September 14 at 6pm Central Time from the beach in Litubu, Punta de Mita. She is a little smaller than Jaltemba, and like the other turtles at the sanctuary, she enjoys her diet of fresh shrimp.

Nayar during feeding time.

A partial view of the turtle nests at the sanctuary in Boca de Naranjo.

Contact Vicente Peña via Los Grupos Ecologistas de Nayarit to learn more about the organization, make a donation or if you are interested in volunteering or visiting the sanctuary.

This story was submitted by one of our regular contributors. To learn more about the author/photographer, click on the “Contributors” tab near the top of the page. If you want to join in and share information, stories and photos of Jaltemba Bay, Mexico, please email them to Allyson@JaltembaBayLife.com

Leave a Review

3 Reviews on ““Jaltemba” the Hawksbill Returns to Guayabitos”

donna –
September 23, 2013 :

Vicente and his team have been working tirelessly for years... I was so happy to see the story of the tortugas, and so glad the fisherman brought her to Vicente...
Thank you to Vicente and the many people who work with the turtles.

Congratulations for your efforts to preserve the nature species, and for your dearly attention to this Hawsbill Turtle. I don't know the transation, but I imagine it is what we call: " Tortuga de Carey".
Lourdes.

hello david, amazing and exciting day for us, Nayar was 14.7 kgs today just before her release, she transmited already from litibu this afternoon, this was sooner than expected, we will have trhe link ready tomorrow to be able to track her down. saludos

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